Demountable rim



E. J. OSBORNE.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM. APPLICATION HLED MAR. 21, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented May 18, 1920.

rotated through 180 from the ammo STATES PATENT onnion.

ERNEST J. OSBORNE, 0F BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR, T. BRADLEE, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEMOUNTABLE RIM.

Application filed March 27, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST JoHN OSBORNE, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements in Demountable Rims, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rims for vehicle wheels and the like and more particularly to demountable rims for automobile wheels.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a demountable rim which can be held in position on the wheel by means of a single detachable device instead of by the usual plurality of such devices, thereby eliminating the necessity of loosening or de taohing a plurality of nuts or other devices incident to removing the ordinary demountable rim.- Another object of the invention is to provide interlocking means on the fixed and demountable portions of the rim which are adapted to restrain movement of the demountable portion relatively to the fixed portion both axially. and circumferentially, preferably by the same abutting surfaces, and to correlate the restraining means with a single holding device in such manner that the single device holds said means in interlocked relationship.

Still further objects of my invention will be evident from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectionon line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the wheel with the demountable rim removed;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the wheel rotated through 180 from the position shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an axial section of the demountable rim showing the upper half of the rim as positioned in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a similar section of the rim position shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a development of the outer periphery of the wheel, parts being broken away: and

Fig. 9 is adevelopment of the inner pcriphery of the rim, parts being broken away.

The particular embodiment of the inven- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Serial No. 285,440.

tion chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a demountable rim R having flanges 1 and 2 on each side to form a channel of any suitable contour adapted to receive'an automobile tire, the demountable rim being adapted to fit around the fixed rim R which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as a wooden felly of an artillery wheel. However, it will be understood that the fixed portion of the rim may be made of metal and indeed in practice it would be made of metal at least throughout its outer periphery.

Mounted on the opposing peripheries of the fixed and demountable portions R and R of the rim are interlocking lugs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. As shown in the drawings the lugs 3, 5, 7 and 9 are secured to the outer periphery of the fixed rim R by means of screws 11 and the lugs 4 6, 8 and 10 are secured to the inner periphery of the demountable rim R by means of rivets 12, although it will be understood that the lugs may be secured in any suitable manner and in practice they would preferably be intogrally formed with the rim or welded thereto.

Cardinal features of the invention consist in arranging the lugs on the two portions of the rims obliquely to lines parallel to the axis of the rims and in inclining the lugs on opposite sides of an axial plane (the vertical axial plane in Fig. 1) in opposite directions and in facing the lugs in opposite directions on the opposite sides of said plane. Thus in Fig. 8 where the fixed rim R is shown in development the lugs 3 and 5 are inclined in one direction While the lugs 7 and 9 are inclined in the opposite direction. Likewise in Fig. 9 where the inner periphery of the rim is shown in development the lugs 4: and (3 slope in the same direction as the lugs 3 and 5 on the fixed rim with which they cooperate and the lugs 8 and 10 slope in the same direction as the lugs 7 and 9 on the fixed rim with which they cooperate. Moreover the lugs 3.and 5 face in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 1) while the lugs 7 and 9 face in a clockwise direction conversely the lugs l and 6 face in a clockwise direction while the lugs 8 and 10 face in a counterclockwise direction. The lugs 6 and 8 on the demountable rim face away from the air tube 21 against the lugs 5 and 7 on the fixed rim (Fig. 1) and likewise the lugs 4 and 10 on the demountable rim face away from the air tube 21, against the lugs 3 and 9 on the fixed rim. Moreover each of the lugs on the demountable rim fit in behind the lugs on the fixed rim so as to prevent the dem0untable rim from slipping off when drawn up by the single bolt and wedge.

In order to close the space between the demountable and fixed rims R and R and in order to assist in positioning the demountable rim transversely of the fixed rim I preferably provide flanges on the two rims. Thus as shown in the drawings, particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, a flange 13 is secured on one side of the fixed rim R by means of screws 20 and a flange 14 is integrally formed on the other side of the demountable rim B. When forming the fixed portion of the rim of metal, flange 13 would be formed as an integral part thereof in the same way as the flange 1a is formed as an integral part of the demountable rim R.

With lugs provided as described a single holding device may be employed to look a demountable rim on the fixed rim. Thus in Figs. 1 and 2 I have illustrated a holding device comprising a bolt 15 passing through the fixed rim R and thence through an opening in the flange 14 together with a nut 16 threaded on the outer end of the bolt.

' Associated with the bolt 15 is provided a pair of cooperating wedges 17 and 18 secured on the fixed and demountable portions of the rim respectively so as to engage each other when the demountable rim is forced transversely of the fixed rim by scans of the bolt 15 and nut 16. As shown in the drawings the wedge 17 is secured to the rim R by means of screws 19 and the wedge 18 is secured to the demountable rim by means of rivets 20, but it will be understood that these wedges would in practice preferably be formed integrally with the respective rims or welded thereto.

In order to detach the demountable rim R the only device which it is necessary to loosen with a tool is the bolt and nut 1516. After the nut 16 has been removed the upper portion (Fig. 1) of the demountable rim may be swung outwardly that is, toward the side of the fixed rim on which the nut 16 is normally located. When the upper portion of the demountable rim is moved outwardly a small amount the wedges 17 and 18 slide on each other and permit the demountable rim to move downwardly somewhat with reation to the fixed rim so as to permit the lugs a, 6, 8 and 10 on the demountable rim to separate somewhat from the lugs 3, 5, 7 and 9 on the fixed rim. Thus as the upper portion of the demountable rim is moved outwardly the rim gradually settles downwardly sufficiently to permit the lugs 4, 6, 8 and 10 to swing outwardly along the faces of the lugs 3, 5, 7 and 9. Indeed if the obliquity of the lugs is properly determined this outward swinging of the upper part of the rim would cause the lugs on the rim to move substantially parallel to the lugs on the fixed rim. After the upper portion of the demountable rim has been swung outwardly somewhat past the outer face of the fixed rim the demountaole rim may e moved downwardly away from the fixed In replacing the demountable rim the air tube 21 is first inserted through the opening provided therefor in the fixed rim and the demountable rim is then moved upwardly and at the same time swung inwardly on its upper side so that the lugs on the demountable rim will move along the lugs on the fixed rim in juxtaposition thereto. After the upper portion of the demountable rim begins to move over the upper portion of the fixed rim the wedges 17 and 18 engage each other and further.movcment of the demountable rim causes it to be lifted upwardly. The wedges are so inclined and the lugs are given such obliquity that when the demountable rim is in place the lugs 1, 6, 8 and 10 are drawn tightly against the lugs 3, 5, 7 and 9.

By virtueof the oblique arrangement of the lugs 3 to 10 they may all be drawn into interlocking relationship by a single holding device. Moreover they restrain movement of the demountable rim relatively to the fixed rim both axially and circumferentially. Owing to the fact that the lugs on opposite sides of the vertical axial plane are inclined in opposite directions and face in opposite directions they restrain the circumferential movement of the demountable rim relatively to the fixed rim in both directions. By arranging the lugs or wedges as herein disclosed the demountable rim is restrained both axially and circumferentially with simple wedges, that is, wedges whose wedging surfaces slope only in a single direction in contra-distinction to double or compound wedges having surfaces sloping in opposite directions. It will also be observed that the fiange 1 1 on the demountable rim serves to restrain axial movement of the demountable rim relatively to the fixed rim in one direction.

I claim:

1. A rim for vehicle wheels and the like comprising a fixed portion and a demountable portion, interlocking means on said portions adapted to restrain movement of the demountable portion relatively to the fixed portion both circum-ferentially and axially. and a single device disposed at a point along the circumference of the rim for holding said means in interlocking relationship, said means comprising wedges arranged to permit said demountable portion to be placed around said fixed portion and being arranged to be held in interlocking relationship by said single device, all of said wedges being simple wedges.

2. A rim for vehicle Wheels and the like comprising a fixed portion and a demountable portion, and means for holding the demountable portion on the fixed portion, said means including oblique lugs on the opposing peripheries of said portions adapted to bear against each other to restrain movement of the demountable portion both circumferentially and axially with relation to said first portion.

3. A rim for vehicle Wheels and the like comprising a fixed portion and a demountable portion, and means for holding the demountable portion on the fixed portion, said means including lugs on the opposing peripheries of said portions for positioning the latter portion relatively to the former portion, said lugs having abutting surfaces disposed transversely to said peripheries and obliquely to lines parallel to the axis of the wheel, whereby the lugs serve to restrain movement of the demountable portion both circumferentiall y and axially, in relation to said first portlon.

4. A rim for vehicle wheels and the like comprising a fixed portion and a demountable portion, a plurality of pairs of interlocking lugs distributed about the opposing peripheries of the said portions, sald lugs having abutting faces disposed transversely of said peripheries and obliquely to lines parallel to the axis of the mm, and a device for forcing said demountable portion axially and radially in one direction relatively to said fixed portion to hold said lugs into interlocking relationship.

5. A rim for vehicle wheels and the like comprising a fixed portion anda demountable portion, a plurality of pairs of interlocking lugs distributed about the opposing peripheries of said port1ons, said lugs having abutting faces disposed transversely of said peripheries and obliquely to lines parallel to the axis of the rim, and a de vice for holding said lugs 1n interlocking relationship, said lugs being arranged so that said demountable portion may be placed over said fixed portion from one side but is locked from being removed from said side after said holding device applied by virtue of the obliquity of said lugs.

6. A rim for vehicle wheels and the like comprising a fixed portion and a demountable portion, a plurality of pairs of interlocking lugs distributed about the opposing peripheries of saidportions, sald lugs having abutting faces disposed transversely f said peripheries and obliquely to lines parallel to the axis of the rim, and a dev1ce disposed at a point along the periphery of the rim for holding said lugs 1n interlocking relationship, the obliquity of the lugs on opposite sides of the axial plane passing through said point being inopposite directions.

7 A rim for vehicle wheels and the like comprising a fixed portion and a demountable portion, means for holding the demountable portion on the fixed portion, said means including a plurality of pairs of interlocking lugs distributed about the opposing peripheries of said portions, said lugs having abutting faces disposed transversely of said peripheries and obliquely to lines parallel to the axis of the rim, the obliquity of the lugs being such as to restrain movement of said demountable portion transversey of said fixed portion in one direction, and a flange on one of said portions for restraining movement of the demountable portlon transversely of the fixed portion in the other direction.

8. rim for vehicle wheels and the like comprising a fixed portion and a demountable portion, means for holding the demountable portion on the fixed portion, said means including a plurality of pairs of interlocking lugs distributed about the opposing peripheries of said portions, said lugs being arranged to restrain movement of said demountable portion transversely of said fixed portion in one direction When in interlocking relationship, and a flange on said demountable portion arranged to engage said fixed portion to restrain movement of said demountable portion transversely of said fixed portion in the other direction.

9. A rim for vehicle Wheels and the like comprising a demountable portion and a fixed portion, means for holding the demountable portion on the fixed portion,

said means including a plurality of pairs of interlocking opposing peripheries of said portions, said lugs having abutting faces disposed transversely of said peripheries and obliquely to lines parallel to the axis of the rim, the abutting faces of certain of the lugs on each of the two portions facing in opposite circumferential directions. a

10. A rim for vehicle Wheels and the like comprising a demountable portion and a fixed portion, a plurality of pairs of interlooking lugs distributed about the opposing peripheries of said portions, said lugs having abutting faces disposed transversely of said peripheries and obliquely to lines parallel to the axis of the rim, the abutting faces of the lugs on opposite sides of an axial plane facing in opposite circumferential directions and having such obliquity as to permit said demountable portion to be placed on said fixed portion from one side with the lugs on the former portion disposed on the other side of the lugs on the lugs distributed about the latter portion, and means for securing the demountable portion in place.

11. A rim for vehicle Wheels and the like comprising a demountable portion and a fixed portion, a plurality of pairs 01": in terlocking lugs distributed about the opposing peripheries of said portions, said lugs having abutting faces disposed transversely of said. peripheries and obliquely to lines parallel to the axis of the rim, the abutting faces of the lugs on opposite sides of an axial plane facing in opposite circumferential directions and having such obliquity as to permit said demountable portion to be swung on said portion from one side with the lugs on the former portion disposed on the opposite side of the lugs on the latter portion, and a device d-is posed at one side of the rim inthe reg-ion of said plane for securing the demountable portion in place With said lugs in interlocking relationship.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 26th day of March, 1919.

ERNEST J. OSBORNE. 

